Daily Archives: February 20, 2019

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History hosts one of the largest and longest-running wildflower shows in the Northern and Western Hemispheres featuring more than 600 species and varieties of wildflowers, April 19-21, 2019, at the museum.

Pacific Grove, CA, February 19, 2019 — The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History hosts one of the largest and longest-running wildflower shows in the Northern and Western Hemispheres featuring more than 600 species and varieties of wildflowers, April 19-21, 2019, at the museum.

In addition, the Museum will host an evening to learn more about the tallest plants in the world as part of its Hardcore Natural History Series, “The State of Redwoods: From the Big Sur Coast to Southern Oregon,” with Dr. Emily Burns, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2019.

The Museum also reports that the Western monarch butterfly population is at an all-time low and offers suggestions for how the public can help their plight.

The 58th Annual Wildflower Show will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. April 19, 20 and 21. The Museum partners with the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) to hold this cherished annual event. More than 30 members of the Native Plant Society spend over a week scouring Monterey County and beyond collecting the finest specimens of wildflowers blooming in spring.

Botanists, garden enthusiasts, and people looking for flowers they would like to plant in their gardens will all appreciate this comprehensive and spectacular array of wildflowers.

Admission to the Wildflower Show and Museum (tickets can be purchased at the Museum on the days of the show):

·$8.95 for adults who live outside of Monterey County

·$5.95 for youths ages 4-18, students with ID, military who live outside of Monterey County

·Free for 3 years old and under

·Free for Museum Members and CNPS Members w/membership cards

·$5 admission for Monterey County residents

Dr. Burns, lead scientist of the Save the Redwoods League, will be presenting an overview of the current status of the Coastal Redwood population. She will discuss the whole population, then focus on the population of redwoods in the Santa Lucia range. Using recent research, she will show how the current tree populations are responding to climate change along the central coast.

In related news, the Monarch population is at an all-time low, according to the 2018 Xerces Society Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count, in which Pacific Grove is included.

The PG Museum has offered guidelines about what the public can do to help the plight of the Western Monarch:

>Do not plant milkweed if you live within 5-10 miles of an overwintering site. This “no-milkweed zone” includes all of Pacific Grove. These areas are not part of milkweed’s historic range, and the introduction of the non-native plant can disrupt natural migratory patterns and introduce increased levels of monarch parasites.

>Instead, Pacific Grove residents who are interested in supporting monarchs should plant nectar-bearing (flowering) plants, specifically ones that will bloom in the fall, winter, and/or spring when monarchs are on the peninsula. These flowers will provide food for adult monarch butterflies, which is the only life cycle stage that would naturally occur here.

>Refrain from using pesticides around your home (herbicides and insecticides), as these can harm monarch butterflies when they visit your garden.

>Support legislation that protects habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of population decline of the western monarch butterfly.

>Volunteer. Educating the public about the importance of protecting these important overwintering sites is a great way to spread awareness for the plight of the monarch and its amazing migration. Inquire about volunteer opportunities at the pgmuseum.org/volunteer/ No experience necessary.

In 1883, our museum opened its doors among the first wave of natural history museums in America. Naturalists of this era, such as John Muir And Louis Aggasiz, began a national tradition of hands-on science education and nature preservation. The museum has continued this tradition for 130 years. The museum’s mission is to inspire discovery, wonder, and stewardship of our natural world. It envisions a community of curious minds, engaged in discovering the natural heritage and cultural legacy that exist today on the Central California Coast. The Museum is a catalyst for conservation and a valued learning resource in this region, facilitating active inquiry for all ages.